Curtas do Bryant´s

DOJ – MSC contractor indicted for bribery and fraud

The Department of Justice (DOJ) issued a news release stating that a former contractor at the Military Sealift Command (MSC) has been indicted for his role in a bribery and fraud conspiracy from approximately 1999 to 2014, in which he allegedly received almost $3 million in bribes. The former contractor allegedly used his position and influence at MSC to assist his co-conspirator in obtaining and expanding a commission agreement with a telecommunications company that sold maritime satellite services to MSC. (5/4/17) [https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/former-military-sealift-command-contractor-charged-bribery-and-fraud].

NSIDC – Arctic sea ice analysis

The National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) posted an Analysis of Arctic Sea Ice. Arctic sea ice in April 2017 tied with April 2016 as the lowest extent in the satellite record. In addition, the volume of multi-year ice has been decreasingly steadily and now makes up only a small percentage of the ice coverage. (5/3/17) [http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/].

NASA – tsunami research

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) issued a multi-media post reporting that recent research reveals that the horizontal movement of the seafloor during an earthquake is a significant factor in tsunami generation as is vertical movement of the seafloor. Highly precise GPS sensors located along coastlines now measure (in one-second intervals) earth movement in three dimensions. Combining those readings from multiple sensors allow for calculation of both the origin-location and probable size of tsunamis. (5/3/17) [https://www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/index.html]. [https://youtu.be/NPJHkCmXv78].

House – bill introduced to ban OCS drilling

Representative Huffman (D-CA) introduced the Keep It in the Ground Act of 2017 (H.R. 2242) to prohibit drilling in the outer Continental Shelf, to prohibit coal leases on Federal land, and for other purposes. (4/28/17) [https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-115hr2242ih/pdf/BILLS-115hr2242ih.pdf].

House – bill introduced re oil spill preparedness

Representative Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) introduced the Marine Oil Spill Prevention Act (H.R. 2261) to improve the ability of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Coast Guard, and coastal States to sustain healthy ocean and coastal ecosystems by maintaining and sustaining their capabilities relating to oil spill preparedness, prevention, response, and for other purposes. (5/1/17) [https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-115hr2261ih/pdf/BILLS-115hr2261ih.pdf].

Denmark – sulphur regulation & Polar Code

The Danish Maritime Authority (DMA) issued a press release stating that enforcement of the sulphur regulations and the Polar Code has been included in the new Ministerial Declaration signed by representatives of Paris and Tokyo MOUs. (5/5/17) [http://www.dma.dk/Presse/Nyheder/Sider/Port-State-Control-will-target-sulphur-rules-and-the-Polar-Code.aspx]. Fonte: Dennis Bryant.